Tablet PCs are making an inroad into the educational sector that netbooks were expected to make. A lot of issues cropped up with netbooks, such as they were too small to be a productive laptop and they were too underpowered to handle normal educational applications. Surprisingly, tablet PCs have been able to carve a niche that is all their own in the educational industry.
The form of the device is the greatest asset when you consider it as a tool to aid education. The large screen which is comparable in size to a page from a textbook makes it the ideal device to store textbooks. The touch interface also makes it a natural device to take notes on the topics being read. In fact a number of universities and schools are looking at this as an option to replace bulky textbooks that are the bane of students.
Apple’s iBooks and Google Books are both notable efforts in this direction. Having a full color screen means that the quality of the original textbook is preserved. Subtle improvements like searchable text reduce the need for extensive glossaries at the end of the book. Coupled with Amazon’s over the air delivery of ebooks and normal Wi-Fi capabilities of tablets, these devices have the potential to replace the way content is delivered to students.
The other area where tablet devices may make a huge impact is in test taking methods. The device is perfect for tests that require multiple choice answers, and simplifies grading if the test is automated. The best part about tablet PCs is that they offer relatively low cost computing.
Further the interface can be controlled to such a level that only education oriented material can be loaded, unlike computers that come with more malleable operating systems with options for end users.
One tablet that has long been used by graphic designers is the graphical tablet. This low cost device can be a powerful tool in the hands of a teacher. It is the perfect tool to replace white boards. The interface is so convenient that the instructor can replicate the experience of teaching with a whiteboard on computer screens.
Teachers truly appreciate the chalk and talk method that allows them to flesh out a concept on a board step-by-step in all its detail. Graphical tablets allow them to do this by creating a virtual whiteboard. Coupled with online collaboration tools that are swamping classrooms, this has the potential to create a great impact.
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